The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released today a joint statement from the U.S. and Indonesian governments on a framework for negotiating an agreement on reciprocal trade. More details are also in this White House fact sheet.
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:
USMEF thanks USTR for its tireless efforts to negotiate a meaningful agreement with Indonesia, tackling many challenging issues. Indonesia is a market with incredible potential, in which the opportunity for U.S. beef is estimated at $250 million annually. But today, exports are minimal due to numerous trade barriers.
We are encouraged to see that the highlights detailed in the U.S.-Indonesia joint statement include resolving key issues such as import licensing, the commodity balance policy, and Indonesia’s onerous plant-by-plant approval process. For both U.S. beef and U.S. pork, these longstanding restrictions have limited exports to Indonesia. Indonesian importers and consumers are demanding U.S. red meat and we look forward to the swift conclusion of these negotiations and expanded export opportunities.
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Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE), Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced it had reached a deal with Indonesia to lower tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.
“This deal is a substantial step toward a level playing field for American industries. Ambassador Greer continues to work diligently to strike meaningful deals, and I look forward to further collaboration with the administration as negotiations progress. Strengthening ties with Indonesia will support economic and regional security in the Indo-Pacific while promoting cooperation in key sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and digital services.”
